A study on Sb3+-doped (Cyt)2InCl5·H2O and its derivatives for unlocking the potential of single-matrix white-light emission

The development of efficient and environmentally benign luminescent materials is of paramount importance for sustainable lighting and display technologies. This study presents a novel zero-dimensional (0D) organic-inorganic hybrid metal halides (OIHMHs), (Cyt) 2 InCl 5 ·H 2 O:Sb 3+ , with tunable white-light emission through synergistic organic-inorganic interactions and Sb 3+ doping. The incorporation of Sb 3+ ions through doping establishes energy transfer pathways from singlet exciton recombination (S 1 ) and triplet exciton recombination (T 1 ) energy levels to self-trapped excitons (STEs), thereby enabling precise control over fluorescence emission and phosphorescence characteristics. This strategic modification concurrently enhances the photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) and thermal stability the material. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further provide insights into the electronic structure and defect-related properties of the crystals. The Sb 3+ -doped (Cyt) 2 InCl 5 ·H 2 O materials demonstrate excellent performance in solid state lightings, achieving high color rendering index (CRI) and adjustable correlated color temperature (CCT). Additionally, the long-persistent luminescence and X-ray scintillation properties are explored for anti-counterfeiting and radiation detection applications.